Winding machine



Jan. 1, 1935. N. MARCALUS 1,986,680

WINDING MACHINE i Z9 z 4 LL UL LL i J7 33141 L INVENTOR L 7 YW'M 3 (f) fg wvz u ATTORNEYS Jan. 1, 1935. Rc us 1,986,680

WINDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS N. MARCALUS WINDING MACHINE Jan. 1, 1935.

Filed Sept. 4, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 223d:EEEzEEEE -55:

.INV NTOR WW DEM-w w I (a M V ATTORNEYS N. MARCALUS WINDING MACHINE Jan. 1, 1935.

Filed Se t. 4, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS Jan. 1, 1935. N. MARCALUS 1,986,680

WINDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVE TOR Patented Jan. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES.

PATENT- OFFICE v 15 Claims.

This invention relates to web-winding machines of the type in which the web is unwound from a parent roll and rewound into smaller unit rolls. It is customary in operating such machines either to wind the web about a core which remains with the roll or about a collapsible spindle which is removed after each winding and reused, Automatic winding machines provided with means for automatically feeding cores into winding position have been in successful operation for several years, but these machines require a constant supply of cores, which adds to the expense of. the product and necessitates the use of mechanism for automatically feeding, holding and centering these cores. In Patent No. 1,669,832 issued on an application filed jointly by me and Roswell H. Rausch there is disclosed a machine for winding rolls about a permanent spindle which is automatically traversed into winding position prior to the initiation of the winding operation and automatically withdrawn at the completion of the winding to strip the wound roll. I have experienced difliculty in withdrawing the spindle of that machine from a tightly wound roll. It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide an improved winding machine of the spindle type, as fully automatic in operation as the core winding machines now in use while avoiding the expense incident upon the use of cores and in which the spindle can be easily and quickly withdrawn from a tightly wound roll.

In attaining this object I employ a spindle split into two interfitting tapered sections and provide means for traversing these sections toward each other into winding position with the web between their tapered faces and for withdrawing and separating both sections of the spindle at the termination of the winding in order to strip the wound roll for discharge. During winding the spindle with the web gripped between its sections constitutes a cylindrical core about which the roll is wound. The outward traverse when the roll is wound ismade possible because of the tapered construction of the two halves of the spindle. A very slight movement separates the sections releasing the winding grip on the web and lessening the effective diameter "of the spindle; I also provide means for accelerating and decelerating the winding speed at the initiation and termination of the winding operation, means for discharging the wound roll, means for severing the web. and means for applying glue to the tail of the wound and severed web. These various means operate automatically and in synchronism,

delivering wound rolls as long as any of the web remains onthe parent roll.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention. In these drawings Figure 1 is an end view of the machine showing the general relation of the various parts; Figure 2 is a transverse section taken along line 2--2 of Figure 3 showing the relations of the feeding and winding rollers, the spindle and the web just prior to the initiation of a winding operation; Figure 3 is a side view of the machine; Figure 4 is a view illustrating the spindle sections and the traversing mechanism; Figures 5 and 6 are details of the mechanism employed for properly positioning the spindle section prior to the inward traverse; Figure 7 is an end view of the cam drum which governs the sequence of operations; Figure 8 is a side view of the cam drum illustrating in particular the valves which control the spindle traversing piston, and Figure 9 is a diagrammatic layout of the control valves and the connecting air lines which operate the piston.

The parent roll from which the web is unwound and rewound into smaller units is mounted at the side of the machine and is indicated by reference numeral 1. The web 2 from this. parent roll passes under a guiding roller 3 thence under a second roller 4 to the winding rollers 5, 6 and "l, which hold and rotate the roll as it is wound. The roller 4 is shown provided with a plurality of spaced slitting knives 8 cooperating with grooves 9 in the winding roller '7 for slitting the web prior to winding. By the use of these knives rolls shorter than the parent roll may be wound, if desired.

Instead of employing a cardboard core about which the roll is wound I have provided, in accordance with the present invention, a permanent spindle comprising two interfitting tapered sections 11 and 12 which, during the winding operation, are in interfitting position as illustrated in Figure 4. This spindle is not positively driven, but simply acts as an axis about which the web is wound. At the termination of the winding operation the spindle sections are retracted to strip the wound roll which is then discharged beyond the winding roller 6, by means of a discharge roller 13 carried by a pair of swinging arms 14, (see Figure 1). This leaves the unwound web stretched across and above the winding rollers 6 and 7. As soon as the wound roll has been discharged the spindle sections are traversed inward and spaced slightly apart one above and one below the web as illustrated in Figure 2.

winding rollers 6 and I. At the same time the web is severed from the wound roll, the tail of the wound web glued to the roll and a second winding operation 'is begun. With this very general description of the operation of the machine I shall now proceed to describe its parts in greater detail beginning first with the spindle and its operating mechanism, with particular reference to Figures 2, and 6.

Spindle section 11 is journaled in a bearing 15 carried by a vertical rod 16 slidably mounted in a spindle bracket 17 fixed upon a horizontally reciprocable rod 18 mounted in the frame of the machine. The companion spindle section .12 is similarly journaled in bearing 19 mounted upon rod 20 sliding in spindle bracket 21 fixed upon rod 22 lying parallel to and in the same horizontal plane with rod 18. The bracket 1'1'although fixed to and movable with the rod 18, slidably engages rod 22 and similarly bracket 21 is fixed to rod 22 and slidably engages rod 18. The inner faces of rods 18 and 22 are provided with rack teeth 24 which mesh with a pinion 25 situated between them. This pinion 25 is fixed to the upper end of a shaft 26 journaled in the frame of the machine to the lower end of which .is fixed a second pinion 27 which meshes with rack teeth 28 on a horizontally reciprocable rod 29 slidably mounted within the frame of the machine and carrying at .its right hand end, as viewed in Figure 4, a piston 30 reciprocable within a cylinder 31 by means of mechanism which I shall describe later.

From the foregoing description it is clear that reciprocation of piston 30 and rod-29 acts through pinion 2'1, shaft 26, pinion 25 and rods 18 and 22 to traverse the spindle sections inward and outward. Thus by properly timing the movements of piston 30 the spindle sections can be separated at the termination of the winding action and brought together again after the wound roll has been discharged. To separate the spindle sections it is necessary only to move the respective 'spindle brackets outward. It is not, however, so

simple to return these sections into winding position, and for two reasons: First, the spindle sections must be returned one above and one below the web in order, to grip it, and second, the tapered faces of the two sections must make a nice fit when the sections are brought together, as otherwise the sections will not form a cylindrical core about which the web can be wound. I shall now describe the means which I have devised for insuring that the spindles are returned in proper position.

The spindle section 11 is provided with a tapered outer end 33 and section 12 with a tapered outer end 34. When the sections are retracted to release the wound rolls these tapered ends enter holes 35 and 36 respectively in the frame of the machine. Prior to the spindles entering these holes 35. and 36 the spindles drop by gravity to their lowest or initial positions. slightly below hole 35 so that when the spindle sections are in their fully retracted positions the section 12 is lower than section 11 by an amount sufficient to insure that upon their inward traverse the web. will lie between them. movement of the sections is, of course, permitted by the sliding fit between the rods 16 and 20 and their brackets. This is necessary to permit up- Hole 36 is (Vertical 1,986,680 7 The winding roller 5 then moves downward, the

ward movement of the spindle as the roll increases in diameter.)

Beyond their respective bearings, each spindle section has fixed thereto a sleeve 3'7 having an 'butwardly facing inclined cam surface 38. This cam surface terminates at its outer extremity in a sharp edge 39 and at its inner extremity in a slot 40. Mounted on the frame of the machine near the outward extremity of the traverse of each spindle section is a. cam roller 42 which contacts withv the cam surface 38 and rotates the spindle section until roller 42 rides into slot 40, thus insuring that each spindle section is in the proper position when fully retracted. In the event that the roller 42 might, on some occasion strike the edge 39 on dead center I mount this roller on a pivoted arm 43 held normally in position by means of a stiif compression spring 44. This spring. however, can yield sufficiently to permit the roller 42 to move off center, if necessary, and thus perform its function. In order to hold the spindle sections in their proper positions after being placed there by the roller 42, each bearing 15 and 19 carries a latch 45 which falls within the slot when the sleeve 37 has been positioned. These latchestherefore, hold the spindle sections in proper relation to each other during the inward traverse. Once they have been returned to winding position, however, with the web between them, it is necessary that the latches be released to permit rotation of the spindle during winding. This release is effected by means of fingers 46 fixed upon the frame of the machine which raise the latches when the spindle sections have reached their innermost positions.

I shall'now describe the mechanism which cperates the winding rollers with particular reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 7. The primary source of power is a motor 48 which drives a belt 49 extending around a large pulley 50 mounted on a stub shaft 51. Fixed to this pulley is a gear 52 meshing with a gear 53 mounted on the shaft of winding roller 7. Gear 53 meshes with an idler pinion 54 which, in turn, meshes with a gear 55 on the shaft of winding roller 6. The other end of the shaft of winding roller 7 carries a bevel gear 56 meshing with'a bevel pinion 5'7 fixed to a vertical shaft 58. Splined on this shaft 58 to permit vertical sliding movement is a second bevel pinion 59 which meshes with a bevel gear 60. Bevel gear 60 has associated with it a spur gear meshing is customary in surface winding machines, the last winding roller to contact with the roll, in this case roller 5, is geared to rotate at a peripheral speed from-10 to 15% greater than that of the other rollers thus insuring a tightly wound roll. By means of the sliding bevel pinion 59 the driving roller 5 is positively driven throughout the winding operation despite the fact that it is continuously raised by the increasing diameter of the roll being wound.

In order that the winding shall stop when a roll of a predetermined size has been wound, I provide the following means for automatically opening the driving motor circuit at the proper time. Extending from the vertically movable bearings of the upper winding roller 5 are a pair of outwardly extending arms 62 each of which carries a rod 63 provided with adjustable collars roll, (this has already been described) their raise the winding roller to clear the roll, and then swing the arms 14-with their roller 13 into contact with the wound roll and push it over the winding roller 6 and out of the way. This is accomplished by the following means: Mounted below the winding rollers and their driving mechanism is a cam drum 6'7 driven by an auxiliary motor 68 through worm 69 and worm wheel '70. When the switch 65 is thrown to open the driving motor circuit the cam motor circuit is simultaneously closed, thus initiating the rotation of the cam drum. Pivoted adjacent the lower side of the cam drum at '71 is an arm '72 to the outer end of which is pivoted a vertical rod '73 terminating at its upper end in a cable'74 which extends around a sheave '75 fixed to a shaft '76 which extends across the machine. Also fixed to this shaft '76 are a pair of pinions '7'7 which mesh with racks '78 which carry the bear- IIU ings of the upper winding roller 5. When the cam drum 6'7 is rotated, cam" 80 carried thereby engages a cam roller 81 carried by arm 72, swings that arm downward, and through rod '73, cable '74 and pinions 7'7, raises the racks '18 and with them the upper driving roller 5, thus causing that roller to clear the wound roll. At the same time the lower collars 64 engage projections 82 carried by arms 14 and swing these arms and their roller 13 to discharge the wound roll, the arms 14 being loosely j ournaled on the shaft '76. The wound roll thus discharged from its position on the winding rollers 6 and -'7 finds support on a roller 83 and an inclined plate 84 which terminates in a serrated cutting edge. The relative positions of the wound roll, the winding rollers, the'cutting edge and the web at this time are illustrated in Figure 2.

The next step is the severing of the wound roll from the web and the applying of glue to the tail of the wound web in order to prevent it from unwinding after leaving the machine. This I accomplish in the following manner: As soon as the cam 80 has passed the cam roller 81, on pivoted arm '72, the upper winding roller 5 drops by gravity, during which movement the upper collars 64 return the arms 14 to their former position. The arms 62 which thus move downward with the winding roller are provided with a serrated knife 85 which extends across the machine and engages the cutting edge of plate 84, thus severing the wound roll from the web. The arms 62 also carry a series of gluers 86 which contact with the tail of the web on the wound roll and deposit spots of glue thereon.- Where the web, prior to winding, has been slit into narrow ribbon's, one spot of glue is applied to each ribbon. When winding is resumed, the roller 83 which is positively driven by: means of a chain 8'7 connected to the shaft of the winding roller 6, rotates the wound roll to wind the loose end under and cause the tail of the web to adhere to the roll. Thereupon the wound and glued roll is removed by an operator.

During the roll discharge operations described above the spindle sections will have first been traversed outward to strip the rolland then traversed inward to span the web preparatory to the next winding operation. These spindle traverses are controlled by the cam drum, as I shall now explain. As described earlier inthis specification the spindle traverse is effected by means of the piston 30 sliding in cylinder 31. Reciprocation of this piston is effected pneumatically by the following means: Each end of the cylinder 31 is provided with air inlets 90 and 91. and air outlets 92 and 93 respectively. A fourway valve 94 controls inlet 90 and outlet 93 and a similar four-way valve 95, controls inlet 91 and outlet-92. These valves are operated by means of arms 96 and 9'7 respectively. One end of arm 96 carries a rod 98 which extends across the machine and terminates in an upturned portion 99. The other end'of this arm terminates in a cam roller 100. The arm 9'7 likewise terminates at one end in cam roller 101 and at the other end in a similar roller 102. The cam drum is provided on its peripheral face with a cam 103 which contacts with cam roller 100 to operate valve 94 and a similar cam 104 which contacts with cam roller 101 to operate valve 95'. Valve 94 is shown in closed position in Figure 8. Cam 103, contacting with roller 100 on arm 96 swings that arm to open the valve as shown in Figure 9. With the valve in open position compressed air from a source not illustrated enters the left-hand end of the cylinder 31 and moves the piston 30 to the right, thus traversing the spindle sections outward as described before. During this movement of the piston 30 the outlet 93 is open to the atmosphere. Just before the spindles have reached their outermost position the spindle bracket 1'7 strikes the upturned member 99 and closes the inlet 90 and outlet 93. At the same time cam 104 operates the valve 95' to open air inlet 91 and air outlet 92, thus causing the piston 30 to return to the left-hand end of the cylinder and traverse the spindle sections into winding 'position. On its return, spindle bracket 1'7 engages roller 102 and moves valve 95 to close the inlet 91 and outlet 92. This closing of the outlets at either end of the piston stroke cushions the stroke.

The cam drum has now made one complete revolution, has effected the withdrawal of the spindle sections, the discharge of the wound roll and the return of the spindle sections into winding position. Cam 105 now operates switch 106 which opens the circuit of the cam motor 68 and simultaneously closes. the circuit of the driving motor 48, thus stopping the cam drum andstarting the winding action'anew.

When a succession of small rolls are being rewound from a parent roll and the winding alternately started and stopped, as is the case in the operation of the illustrated embodiment of my invention, a strain is placed upon the web at the initiation of the winding and a slack is likely -to take place at its termination. Where a paper is being unwound and rewound, the sudden strain placed upon it is likely to cause a rupture. In order to avoid this I have provided means for easing the strain on the web at the initiation of r the winding action and gradually decreasing the speed at its termination. I do this by means of a take-up roller '7 mounted on a pivoted arm 108 (see Figures 1 and 3). Between the pivot point and the roller 107 the arm carries a cam roller 109 which engages cam 110 carried by the cam drum. During the winding operation this roller is supported on the outer face of the cam 110, near its trailing end, and maintains the driving belt 49 taut. Near the completion of the winding action, closing of switch 65 by the arm 62 will initiate rotation of the cam drum. Initial movement of the cam drum will cause cam roller 109 to ride oil the end of the cam and swing the take-up roller 10''! by gravity away from the belt 49, allowing the belt to become slack. When the drum has rotated through almost a complete revolution, the cam will become operative to trip switch 106 to open the circuit of the cam motor, although the .cam drum will not come to rest immediately. but will continue to coast through a small are under its own momentum. Operation of the switch 106 also starts the driving motor, but since the cam roller will not as yet be contacting with cam 110, the belt 49 will remain slack until the motor picks up speed. The driving motor is thus not fully effective in rotating the large driven pulley 50. As the cam drum continues to coast, the cam will move under the cam roller 109 causing the take-up roller 10'! to be gradually brought into engagement with the belt 49. The cam drum having now lost all its momentum, will come to rest with the cam roller 109 situated near the trailing end of cam 110 ready to begin another cycle. Thus the effective driving speed is accelerated at the beginning of the winding and decelerated at its close.

The mechanism which has just been described for easing the strain on the web at the initiation and conclusion of the winding action, while particularly desirable under certain conditions, is not absolutely necessary. Ordinarily, the interval of time required in starting for increasing the speed of the motor up to normal and in reducing its speed to zero in stopping avoids too rapid acceleration or deceleration of the web so as to cause injury to it. Consequently it is entirely optional whether or not the take-up roll 107 be included in the machine.

The machine of the present invention is fully automatic in its operation and will continue to slit, wind, glue and discharge rolls as. long as any material remains upon the parent roll. By the use of the two-part spindle with its tapered interfitting sections I can wind rolls without the use of separate cores and these spindle sections, because of their tapered construction, can be easily and automatically withdrawn from the wound roll. The machine, although capable of rewinding any web material for any use is particularly suitable for winding large rolls of paper such as counter rolls of wrapping paper, adding machine rolls and ribbon and ticker tape rolls.

I claim:

1. In a web-winding machine, the combination of a two-part spindle the parts of which are tapered and adapted to interfit when in operative position, means for causing the two parts of the spindle to grip the web between them, frictional means engaging the web to rotate said spindle and wind the roll thereon, and means for simultaneously retracting the two parts of the spindle whereby the wound roll may be removed.

2. In a web-winding machine, the combination of a spindle comprising two interfitting sections having tapered faces, means for causing the two sections to grip the web between the tapered faces, frictional means engaging the web to rotate-said spindle and wind the roll thereon, and means for withdrawing the spindle sections axially in opposite directions from the wound roll whereby the roll may be removed.

3. In a web-winding machine, the combination of a spindle comprising two sections having tapered interfitting faces, means for traversing the spindle sections toward each other one on either side of the web to grip the web between the tapered faces, frictional means engaging the roll being wound to rotate said spindle and wind the roll thereon, and means for withdrawing the spindle sections axially in opposite directions at the termination of the winding action to strip the roll.

4. In a web-winding machine the combination of winding rollers, means for drawing a web' between the rollers, a spindle comprising two sections having tapered interfitting faces, means for traversing the spindle sections across the web, one on either side thereof, to grip the web between the tapered faces, means for rotating the rollers to wind a tight roll on the spindle and means for withdrawing the spindle sections at the termination of the winding action to stri the roll.

5. In a web-winding machine the combination of a spindle comprising two sections mounted for free rotation and having tapered interfitting faces, means for traversing the spindle sections toward each other one on either side of the web to grip the web between the tapered faces, means for rotating the spindle to wind a roll, means for withdrawing the spindle sections at the termination of the winding action to strip the roll, and means relatively rotating said spindle sections for positioning the spindle sections prior to each inward traverse with their tapered faces in registry.

6. In a web-winding machine the combination of a spindle comprising two sections having tapered interfitting faces, means for traversing the spindle sections toward each other one on either side of the web to grip the web between the tapered faces, means for rotating the spindle to wind a roll, means for withdrawing the spindle sections at the termination of the winding action to strip the roll, means for positioning the spindle sections prior to each inward traverse with their tapered faces in registry, and means for laterally separating the spindle sections prior to each inward traverse to insure their passage one on either side of the web.

7. In a web-winding machine, the combination of winding means, a spindle comprising two sections having tapered interfitting faces about which a roll is wound, frictional means engaging the roll being wound to rotate said spindle and wind the roll thereon, means for simultaneously withdrawing the spindle sections from the roll at the termination of the winding, means for discharging the wound roll from the machine and means for returning the spindle sections simultaneously into winding position to grip the forward end of the unwound web between the ta pered faces.

8. In a web-winding machine, the combination of fixed and movable winding rollers for winding a roll, a source of power .for driving the winding rollers, means actuated by the movable roller for disconnecting the source of power when the wound roll has attained a predetermined diameter, and means carried by the movable roller for severing the wound roll from the web.

9. In a web-winding machine, the combination of fixed and movable winding rollers for winding a roll, a source of power for driving the winding rollers, means actuated by the movable roller for disconnecting the source of power when the wound roll has attained a predetermined diameter, means carried by the movable roller for severing the wound roll from the web, means for moving the movable roller clear of the roll and means for discharging the roll.

10..In a web-winding machine, the combination of fixed winding rollers for supporting and winding a roll, a winding roller movable as the diameter of the wound roll increases, and means automatically put in operation by the movable roll when the diameter of the wound roll has attained a given size for stopping the rotation of the winding rollers, raising the movable roller to clear the wound roll, discharging the wound roll and severing the wound roll from the web.

11. In a web-winding machine the combination of winding means, a split spindle comprising two separable sections having interfltting tapered faces about which a roll is wound, means for withdrawing the spindle sections "from opposite ends of the roll at the termination of the winding, means for discharging the wound roll and means forreturningthe spindle sections into winding position, one on either side of the web,

12. In a web-winding machine the combination of fixed and movable winding rollers, a spindle comprising two separable sections having interfitting tapered faces about which a roll is wound by the rollers, a motor for driving the winding rollers, a switch actuated by the movable roller when the diameter of the wound roll has reached a given size to stop the driving motor, and other means controlled by the switch for raising the movable roller to clear the wound roll, withdrawing the spindle sections, discharging the wound roll and returning the spindle sections into winding position one on either side of the web.

13. In a web-winding machine, the combination of winding means, means for driving the winding means, a two-section longitudinally traversible spindle, said sections being mounted for tree rotation and about which a roll is wound,

means for oppositely withdrawing thespindle sections at the termination of a winding operation,

means for discharging the wound roll, means to apply glue to the tail of the wound web, means for returning the spindle sections to proper rotative positions relative to each other, actuating means for the spindle traverse and the roll discharge, and means for automatically stopping the winding drive when the roll has attained a given diameter and automatically starting the spindle and roll discharge actuating means.

14. In a web-winding machine the combination of fixed and movable winding rollers for supporting and winding a roll, means for raising the movable roller at the termination of the winding action to clear the wound roll, means for :discharging the wound roll laterally of one of the fixed rollers, a cutting edge beyond which the wound roll is supported, a cutting edge movable with the movable roller and means for dropping the movable roller into winding position after the wound roll is discharged to sever the wound roll from the web.

15. In a web-winding machine the combination of fixed and movable winding rollers for supporting and winding a roll, means for raising the movable roller at the termination of the winding action to clear the wound roll, means for discharging the wound roll laterally of one of the fixed rollers, a cutting edge beyond which the wound roll is supported, a cutting edge movable with the movable roller, glue applying means movable with the movable roller, means for dropping the movable roller into winding position and to simultaneously sever the wound roll from the web, and apply glue'to the tail of the wound web.

NICHOLAS MARCALUS. 

